summaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/Doc/lib/libmailbox.tex
blob: 5ebc57dca03e8b40d6cb7a8c2e1e286f7c10cef1 (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
\section{Standard Module \module{mailbox}}
\declaremodule{standard}{mailbox}

\modulesynopsis{Read various mailbox formats.}



This module defines a number of classes that allow easy and uniform
access to mail messages in a (\UNIX{}) mailbox.

\begin{classdesc}{UnixMailbox}{fp}
Access a classic \UNIX{}-style mailbox, where all messages are contained
in a single file and separated by ``From name time'' lines.
The file object \var{fp} points to the mailbox file.
\end{classdesc}

\begin{classdesc}{MmdfMailbox}{fp}
Access an MMDF-style mailbox, where all messages are contained
in a single file and separated by lines consisting of 4 control-A
characters.  The file object \var{fp} points to the mailbox file.
\end{classdesc}

\begin{classdesc}{MHMailbox}{dirname}
Access an MH mailbox, a directory with each message in a separate
file with a numeric name.
The name of the mailbox directory is passed in \var{dirname}.
\end{classdesc}

\subsection{Mailbox Objects}
\label{mailbox-objects}

All implementations of Mailbox objects have one externally visible
method:

\begin{methoddesc}[mailbox]{next}{}
Return the next message in the mailbox, as a \class{rfc822.Message} object.
Depending on the mailbox implementation the \var{fp} attribute of this
object may be a true file object or a class instance simulating a file object,
taking care of things like message boundaries if multiple mail messages are
contained in a single file, etc.
\end{methoddesc}